20 NDE trainees graduate from solar energy scheme in Anambra

National Directorate of Employment (NDE) yesterday graduated about 20 beneficiaries of its training on solar installation and maintenance in Awka Anambra state.

The solar energy training scheme (SETS) was one of the renewal energy training schemes designed by the NDE to generate employment for the unemployed graduates to explore new areas of job creation for the youths.

 The Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed at the graduation ceremony of the programme yesterday at Sports City Club Amawbia said that NDE sought for other means of energy production and therefore adopted Renewable Energy Training Scheme as one of its strategies for employment generation.

He stated that SETS equips unemployed graduates with skills for energy harvest, installation and maintenance of solar power facilities for sustainable self-reliance and to improve electricity power generation for economic development in the country.

Mohammed however assured that no stone would be left unturned to deliver promptly and effectively its employment generation programmes within the resources available at its disposal.

In his remarks, the State Co-ordinator of NDE, Mr. Michael Mbata stated that harnessing of solar energy has been evaluated to be a better alternative to fossil fuel energy in terms of availability, cost and maintenance.

He advised the privileged graduates to remain committed, steadfast and resolute in learning the new skill which has made them self-employed with the attendant potentials that would attract new jobs in contracts and consultancies.

“They also have acquired the capacity to train other unemployed youth in solar energy conservation, installation and general maintenance.” Mbata noted.

One of the graduands, Mr. Chijioke Ofobueze expressed gratitude to the efforts of NDE in creating such programme which, according to him, was an avenue of empowering the youths to be self-reliance.

“ We can beat our chest to say that federal government has given us an enabling environment of being self-employed instead of hovering along the streets in search of white collar jobs” he stated.

The scheme which was flagged-off on September 2014, with 20 young and enterprising graduates has produced 700 unemployed graduates across the federation; who are trained in design, procurement, installation and maintenance of solar energy equipment for the harnessing of solar energy for electricity generation.